A YATE park has scooped five stars in the South West in Bloom competition.

Kingsgate Park achieved the accolade in the Pride in Parks category of the Royal Horticultural Society's annual competition.

The Friends of Kingsgate Park group secretary, Judith Cameron, headed down to Devon for the award ceremony, which was held at The Imperial Hotel in Torquay.

"We had to be there for 10am, but had to wait until just after 3pm for the announcement of the awards," she said.

"I hoped we'd get four stars, but secretly wanted it to be five.

"They announced the four star winners first and when our name didn't appear in that group, I knew we must be in the five star category.

"I thought, 'yes, we've done it!'

"We already know we've got a beautiful park, but this lets everyone else know too," she said.

"Thanks must go to the estates team of Yate Town Council for all of their hard work to enable the park to win this prestigious award.

"Thanks also must go to the Friends of Kingsgate Park, without whom none of this would happen.

"The plaque will be installed in the park as soon as possible."